If you knew that both teams would play full strength and be trying to win then Belgium at 6/5 would look a good bet.

I suppose 'wait for the team news' would be the best advice !

If this game had been the final then I doubt Belgium would have been as short as 6/5. I think there would have very little between the teams in the betting. Belgium would probably have been slight favourites. There is not much between the teams. Belgium may have beaten Brazil, but they were on the verge of getting knocked out by Japan.

The difference in the prices must therefore reflect the view that Belgium will take the match more seriously then England, and may field a stronger team. That might be the case. It might not.

The third place match usually produces more goals than the final. However, the bookmakers are well aware of this. Both teams to score in the third place match is as short as 1/2. You can get nearly 6/4 that both teams score in the final, which is usually (at least recently) a dreadful game to watch with few chances and even fewer goals, which is why I rarely bother.

The higher the goals expectation, the lower the chance of a draw. There is rarely a draw in the third place match, in contrast to the final, which has been a draw after 90 minutes four of the last seven times. In only one of the last seven finals have both teams scored, and that was a 1-1 draw.

There are worse things you could do in the third place match than bet both teams to win 3-1 or 3-2, although the prices for these and other high scoring results are considerably shorter than normal. Belgium to win 3-2 is only 20/1. It is 50/1 for France to win 3-2 a day later.

There are worse things you could do in the third place match than bet both teams to win 3-1 or 3-2, although the prices for these and other high scoring results are considerably shorter than normal. Belgium to win 3-2 is only 20/1. It is 50/1 for France to win 3-2 a day later.

Might have a little go on this as my last hurrah for the tournament. Still got France win and Harry Kane top scorer bets active so if either come in I'm quids in overall, which is a pleasant surprise

I fancy a high scoring draw tomorrow but i am staying away from placing a bet, we dont know how serious either side will take it

In eighteen third place matches, there has only been one draw after 90 minutes. As I said above, more goals makes a draw less likely.

I suspect another factor might be that because third place is essentially a meaningless prize, and the game is really just a glorified friendly,

1) If a team is a goal behind late in the game, they are less likely to go all out to get an equalizer, and
2) If the game is drawn late on, both teams are likely to make more of an effort to get a result in normal time. Either way, if there's a winner after 90 minutes, this avoids the teams having to play another thirty minutes of a match they probably would have preferred not to have to have played in the first place.

I am surprised that the third place match bothers with extra time (rather than just go straight to penalties, as the Community Shield does) but they do, it went to extra time for the only time in 1986, when France won 4-2 against Belgium.

I have added to my pre-tournament bet on France at 13/2 with Mbappe to score and France to win at 7/2 and a wee side bet on Croatia to lift the cup at 15/8. It is a nice feeling to know I will be up whatever happens.

I have added to my pre-tournament bet on France at 13/2 with Mbappe to score and France to win at 7/2 and a wee side bet on Croatia to lift the cup at 15/8. It is a nice feeling to know I will be up whatever happens.

What a great way to finish. Add in Mbappe each way as top scorer and it has been a perfect finish for me!